Valve construction



March 3, 1953 A. u. BRYANT 2,630,326/

VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 15, 1949 y 47 47 46 3 -f 3 2 7 46 44 44 27 43 Z/ 43 /4 2/ /3u 4 4/-f'j l E? 25, 24 y u 42; /8 42 ZZ 3g /7 35 37 37 Z 33 22 33 /7 26 J// i4 f 3@ 2 4 /2 'l 1:'.1 E E A l v INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE VALVE CONSTRUCTION pany, Oakland, Calif., a

fornia Ycorpi-ration of Cali- Application August 15, 1949, Serial No. 110,349

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to valves of the type adapted to control flow of iluid to and from a pressure receiving chamber or receiver.

In many instances it is desired to control the operation of an appliance by supplying or venting oi iluid pressure from a fluid pressure operating chamber. For example iiuid pressure operated valves are frequently provided With a pressure operating chamber to which air or other gas under pressure is supplied for retaining the valve in one of its operating positions, as for example in closed position. Suitable loading is provided whereby when the pressure is vented from the operating chamber, the valve moves automatically to its open position. Expansible tube valves of vthe type disclosed in Patents 2,353,143, 2,360,873 and 2,331,291 have an operating chamber to which huid pressure can be supplied, or vented oil, in order to secure operation of the valve between closed and open positions. Control valves for such appliances can be operated in various ways, as for example by a liquid iloat or other type of motive means. Assuming that the control valve includes a valve member which is movable in opposite directions between limiting positions, it is generally desirable that the valve move with snap or rapid action, particularly when moving in a direction to vent off pressure from the operating chamber of the appliance. Such snap action makes for more positive operation of the appliance, and prevents a throttling action on the part of the control valve, which in many instances is deemed undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control valve of the above character which is capable of the desired snap action, but which secures this result without the use of the customary mechanical devices, such as toggle means or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control valve of the above character which makes use of the pressure being vented 01T from the operating chamber, to secure the desired snap action.

Additional objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view, in section, illustrating a control valve incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure l, but with the `2 lower end removed, and showing the plunger in a diiierent operating position.

The valve as illustrated in Figure 1 consists of a body Ill, provided with the passages II, I2 and i3. Passage II is adapted to be connected to the operating chamber of an appliance as described above, such as the jacket chamber of an expansible tube valve of the type disclosed in said patents. Passage I2 can be termed a vent passage, and maydischarge to the atmosphere. Passage I3 is adapted for connection with the source oi fluid pressure employed to.

supply pressure to the passage I I.

The movable valve member is in the form ofi a plunger Ill which is used in conjunction withA a plurality of resilient O rings, substantially inthe manner disclosed in my copending applica-l tion Serial No. 100,225, led June 20, 1949. In-- general the plunger consists of the two cylin-4 drical portions I5 and II, which are connected by the portion I8 of reduced diameter. Another: cylindrical portion I9, is of reduced diameter-1 and extends beyond the plunger portion I'I.

The body Ill is bored on several diameters to4 accommodate the plunger and the parts associated with the same. Thus the body is bored to. provide the entrant bore ZI, the bore 22 between the passages I I and I3, and the bore 23 between the passages II and I2. In addition to these bores there is an enlargement 24 communicating with passage I3, and an enlargement 26 communicating with passage I I. Beyond the bore 2i there is a bore 2l serving to house certain parts as will be presently described, and this end of the body carries a removable closure 28.

A resilient O ring 3l surrounds the plunger portion I9, and is compressed radially to form; a seal between this plunger portion and the adjacent surface of the bore 23.

formed between the end faces of the metal retaining ring 33, and the sleeve 34. The retaining ring 33 is held in place on the plunger by- Retaining ring 33 and sleeve Sil slidably fit within the bore 23, and` the snap-on ring 36.

take the thrust of the resilient 0 ring 3|, when pressure is applied to the same.

to form an effective seal. This O ring is accommodated in an annular recess 38, which is formed -between the metal retaining ring 39 and one end,

Vface of the metal sleeve 4I. The sleeve 4I is pro- This O ring is. loosely accommodated in an annular recess 32- vided with ports 42, whereby when the plunger is in the position shown in Figure 1, fluid may now from passage I3 to passage I I.

Another resilient ring 43 serves to form a seal between the bore 2l and the plunger portion I6. This O ring is accommodated in an annular recess formed between the other en'd of the sleeve 4I, and the ported sleeve 44. Sleeve 44 is ported to facilitate introduction of lubricant. Sleeve 44 is recessed to accommodate the lubri-i cant wiping ring 46, which in turn is held in place by the cover Washer or ring 4l. Washer' or ring 41 is held in place' by the cover member 28.

The projecting end portion 49 of the plunger is arranged for connection with some suitable motive means, such as a pivoted lever which carries a liquid float. A sleeve I is shown attached to the plunger portion 49, and a collar 53l adjacent one end of this sleeve forms a limiting shoulder, which for one limiting position engages the stop shoulder 54. Sleeve 5I carries another shoulder 55 which for the other limiting position engages the -adjacent face of closure 28. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the two limiting positions.

The valve described above is similar to one of the embodiments illustrated in my aforesaid copending application. For the position of the plunger illustrated in Figure l, passages I3 and I I are in communication, whileV passage II is sealed with respect to the vent passage I2. For the position shown in Figure 2, passage I3 is sealed with respect to passageA I I, while passage II is in free communication with passage I2.

In addition to the parts described above, a pressure relief valve 56V is provided which serves to control discharge of fluid from the passage I 2. This relief valve may vary in construction, but it should be such as to seal the passage I2 until a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric is applied to the same, after which the relief valve opens and vents the passage I2. In the construction illustrated the relief valve consists of a fitting 51 which is threaded into the passage I2. The tting carries a-cylindrical stud 58, on which a resilient rubber tube 59 is fitted. Therubber tube is normally tensioned into sealing engagement with the periphery of the stud 58. The stud 5S` is provided with the connecting ducts 6I and 52, the latter communicating through the periphery of the stud. The periphery of the stud is also provided with a small bleed groove 63, and with an enlarged head or flange 64, which serves to prevent dislodgement of the rubber tube 59.

In order to describe the manner in which my valve operates, it will be presumed that the passage II has aV direct closed connection withl the operating jacket of a valve of the type disclosed in the aforesaid patents. Passage I3 can connect to a source of air or gas pressure ample to insure operation of the expansible tube Valve. The projecting end of the plunger I 4l is connected to suitable operating means which is to be-used for controlling operation of the expansible tube valve, such as a lever connected to a liquid float.

For the position of the plunger illustrated in Figure 1, pressure in passage I3 is transmitted to passage I I and from thence to the jacket chamber of the expansible tube valve. Therefore the expansible tube valve is maintained in closed position. When the plunger is moved to the other limiting position shown in Figure 2, the plunger portion I1 enters into sealing engagement with the resilient O ring 3l to interrupt communication between the passages` I3 andi I, ando ringl 3| breaks its sealing engagement with the bore 23. This causes fluid under pressure from passage II to discharge into the passage I2, and because of the pressure required to open the relief valve 56, pressure initially builds up to thereby apply force to the lower end of the plunger. This serves to unbalance the plunger, thus urging the same upwardly to the limiting position shown in Figure 2. Upward movement of the plunger occurs relatively rapidly, or with snap action. Immediately after or in conjunction with upward movement of the plunger to its limiting position, the pressure in passage I 2 reaches such a value as to open the relief valve. The relief valve opens by virtue of radial distortion of the resilient tube 59, in the region of the duct G2, thus permitting the gas to discharge relatively freely to the atmosphere. The venting capacity of the relief valve is ample to vent off pressure from passage I I, and the operating jacket chamber of the expansible tube valve, whereby after a short interval the jacket pressure has been vented down to a pressure sufliciently low to permit the expansible tube to expand and flow to occur through the same. When the pressure in the passage I drops down below the value required to hold the relief valve open, the relief valve automatically closes, and thereafter further restricted venting occurs through the bleed groove 63. rI'hus the pressure in the passages Ii and i2 falls to atmospheric. Now assuming that the plunger is subsequently moved back to the position shown in Figure l, such movement occurs under substantially balanced conditions, because of the absence of pressure in the passage I2.

In general it will be evident that my control valve is well adapted for the remote operation of various fluid pressure operated appliances, such as expansible tube valves of the type previously mentioned. To state a particular example, the expansible tube valve may be connected to discharge liquid from the lower portion of a high pressure gas-liquid separator, such as is commonly used in the oil fields. The plunger of the control valve can be connected to a float which is responsive to the level of oil in the separator chamber. When the liquid level reaches a predetermined level, the plunger is moved upwardly to connect the passages II and I2, and to vent through the relief valve 55, with snap upward movement of the plunger in the manner previously described.

The subject matter disclosed and not claimed herein is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial Number 3,728, filed January 22, 1948, and entitled Valve Construction.

I claim:

1. In a valve of the plunger type adapted to vent pressure from a pressure chamber, a valve body having a rst p-assage for connection to the chamber and also having a second vent passage, the body having a bore connecting said passages, a valve plunger' movable axially between limiting positions relative to the body, the plunger in one position extending into the bore to seal against communication between said passages and in its other limiting position permitting such communication, the inner end of the plunger presenting a substantial uid pressure area to pressure in the vent passage, the outer end of the plunger being exposed to atmospheric pressure, and a normally substantially closed pressure release valve communicating with said passage and serving to control venting of fluid therefrom, whereby pressure is' applied to said pressure areawhen the plunger is moved to permit iiow of uid from the rst passage to said vent passage.

2. In a valve of the plunger type adapted to vent pressure from a pressure chamber, a valve body having a rst passage for connection to the chamber and a second vent passage, the body having a third passage adapted for connection with a source of luid pressure, a bore extending into the body, said bere having one portion thereof communicating between said rst passage and said vent passage and another portion communicating between said first passage and said third passage, a Valve plunger extending into the body and movable between limiting positions, the plunger in one of its limiting positions extending into said rst named portion of the bore to seal communication between the rst and second passages and in its other limiting position permitting such communication and extending into the second bore portion to seal communication between said i'irst and third passages, one end of the plunger presenting a substantial uid pressure area to pressure in the vent passage, the other end of the plunger extending from the body and being exposed to the atmosphere, and a normally substantially closed pressure relief valve communicating with said vent passage and serving to control discharge of fluid from the same, said relief valve requiring application of substantial pressure above atmospheric to open the same, said relief valve serving to apply a back pressure on said pressure area when the plunger is moved to permit now of duid from the first passage to the vent passage.

3. In a valve of the plunger type adapted to vent pressure from a pressure chamber, a valve body having a first passage adapted for connection to the chamber and also having a second vent passage, the body having a bore connecting said passages, a valve plunger movable axially between limiting positions relative to the body, the plunger in one position extending into the bore to seal against communication between the passages and in its other limiting position permitting such communication, one end of the plunger presenting a substantial fluid pressure area to pressure in the vent passage, a normally substantially closed pressure relief valve communicating with said passage and serving to apply back pressure on said pressure area when the plunger is moved to permit now of fluid from the rst to the second passage, and a bleed duct communicating between said vent passage and the atmosphere.

4. A valve as in claim 2 in which a bleed duct connects between the vent passage and the atmosphere.

AUSTIN U. BRYANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 303,554 Becker Aug. 17, 1884 1,242,515 Brett Aug. 9, 1917 2,113,615 Farmer Apr. 17, 1938 2,185,103 Heigs Dec. 26, 1939 2,277,656 Falls Mar. 24, 1942 2,473,912 Schwinn June 21, 1949 2,286,026 Towler June 9, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,048 Great Britain of 1891 

